Loyalty lay at the heart of the feudal system. The landowners extracted loyalty from their serfs, the lords expected loyalty from their knights, and the king demanded loyalty from everyone.
- Do you think this loyalty qualifies as true loyalty? Why or why not? Has loyalty remained as important in today's society?
- How do you see this importance of loyalty (or the lack thereof) evidenced in our world today?
- To whom, or to what, are you loyal and why? Your answer might include people, institutions (like schools or church), and even ideas or ways of thinking and seeing the world.
- Whom do you expect to be loyal to you, and in what ways? Why is loyalty something we expect and depend upon?
Read the Middle Ages historical background section (pp. 72-88) and complete the following questions (responses may be typed or answered on paper.):
- What is one word you would use to describe the Middle Ages after reading about it? Why this word?
- Name one thing you learned about feudalism and the role of govt. in this time period.
- Why is this time period known as "the age of formality"?
- What was life like for women of this time period?
- What is chivalry or courtly love?
- Describe one aspect that you learned about knighthood or military battles during this time period.
- Explain the significance of these terms from the reading: Thomas à Becket, The Magna Carta, The Hundred Years' War
- Explain one factor that lead to the eventual end of the Middle Ages.
Please keep these responses for future use in class next week.
When questions are completed, you may read silently or look over the Creative Expression options for October (linked on right side of blog) and begin planning.
